City guide for visitors, expats and even locals

Holiday celebrations & shopping

I can’t believe it is almost December! And of course with the start of the month, comes the start to the holiday season. Here are a few ideas of things to do this weekend to start your Christmas shopping or just get into the spirit of things.

First up, Les Nocturnes du Sablon is an annual celebration on the Grand Sablon square with Christmas decorations, music and food. Belgian design students have created a display with fir trees, each sponsored by one of the stores around the Sablon, and the best creations will be auctioned off on 1 December at 8pm for charity. There will also be music all weekend long, from classical to jazz to DJs (see the full program here). As part of the Brusselicious year, local chefs from some great restaurants (e.g. Le Chalet de la Forêt, Sea Grill) will prepare “gourmet street food” for sale every day for €8 a portion. The festivities start tomorrow evening at 7pm and continue Friday (12-11pm), Saturday (12-11pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). There is no entrance fee.

Also starting this weekend is the biggest Christmas market in Brussels – Plaisirs d’Hiver / Winter Wonders. The market includes 2 kilometers of shops in little chalets between the Grand Place and Place Sainte Catherine, as well as attractions like a giant ferris wheel and skating rink. There are loads of tasty treats and drinks to sample while you wander around the area. This probably isn’t the best Christmas market in Europe, but it’s a good one if you don’t want to leave the city. You can also see the “unique” electric Christmas tree on the Grand Place. Avoid popular times like Saturday and Sunday as it can get very crowded. Starts on 30 November and runs through 6 January.

And last but not least, you might want to check out the Brussels Vintage Market this Sunday at Halles Saint Gery from 12-7pm. Usually held the first Sunday of every month, this special Vintage Market is celebrating Saint Nicholas with vendors offering vintage toys and other goodies. There will be another Christmas edition of the market on 15-16 December (12-10pm) where you can shop for all sorts of holiday gifts.